Tang Dynasty Bandits

Chapter 179 Hug left and right
As the snow dust kicked up by the horse's hooves fell, Zhu Wen suddenly realized that Lan Suting seemed to still be beside him.

Lan Suting couldn't ride a horse; she had been brought here tied to a saddle by the Flower King's men. When Zhu Wen went north to check on the situation, he left her and several female warriors in the village.

After returning to the village, the female knights who were protecting Lan Suting also left with Huo Cun and the others, leaving Lan Suting behind.

Huo Cun didn't ask, which was obviously intentional.

"You little rascal, you thought you were so clever!" Zhu Wen muttered under his breath, gazing in the direction the cavalry had disappeared, but he wasn't really angry.

He then turned to Lan Suting and said, "Zhizhen, you really have guts this time."

Lan Suting smiled calmly: "Otherwise, how could I have survived and continued to assist the General?"

On the battlefield, it is often the brave who survive.

Although Lan Suting knew no martial arts whatsoever, he had long considered himself a warrior.

After a restless night, dawn was approaching, and the bright morning star hung in the sky. The three of them stood side by side on a deserted road in the village, looking at the lanterns that had burned all night, and felt that this year-end was particularly special.

Suddenly realizing what was happening, Tian Jun hugged Lan Suting tightly, patting her back: "Thank goodness you're alright, I was so worried about you..."

After a while, he released Lan Suting and then smiled at Zhu Wen, saying, "Last year you said you didn't want a guard who couldn't beat you. He's done a pretty good job as a guard, hasn't he?"

Zhu Wen recalled Tian Jun's charming and innocent appearance at that time, and his heart stirred.

"Of course, there's nothing to say."

Tian Jun pouted: "I protected you so well, even risking my life during the New Year, and I didn't get any reward?"

Zhu Wen knew Tian Jun was greedy from the moment they met. Coming from a once-wealthy family that had fallen on hard times, she was terrified of poverty.

Her attraction to Zhu Wen was partly due to a sudden pang of jealousy after seeing him hold Lan Suting on his lap. However, her sudden decision to confess her feelings was undoubtedly related to the house Zhu Wen gifted to her mother, worth three thousand strings of cash.

Even after they established a relationship, she still asked Zhu Wen for a reward based on her own achievements, rather than asking for money as a lover. This shows that she clearly distinguished between public and private matters.

This frank greed, unlike the ruthless and meticulous scheming of Flower King Yudi, actually made Zhu Wen find it quite endearing.

"When we return to camp, I will give you one hundred taels of gold," Zhu Wen said generously.

One hundred taels of gold is worth approximately six hundred strings of cash.

Tian Jun's face immediately lit up with joy.

Zhu Wen yawned: "I didn't sleep well all night. I'll go back to my room and catch up on some sleep."

Tian Jun said a little shyly, "There's only one room left..."

"Let's sleep together. It's the New Year, and I happen to need someone to serve me in bed," Zhu Wen suddenly teased.

Tian Jun glanced at Lan Suting to the side, her eyebrows furrowed, and then she thought of the gold Zhu Wen had promised her, unsure whether she should lash out.

"Silly girl, how many times have we slept together? Do you think I'm the kind of person who does random things?" Zhu Wen put his arm around Tian Jun's slender waist and breathed hot air into her ear.

Tian Jun saw that Zhu Wen had already grabbed Lan Suting's hand with his other hand, and lowered her eyes to say, "But the three of us are together..."

Zhu Wen remained unfazed: "It's not like I really intend to have three wives and four concubines. It's the New Year, and since you've taken the gold, let me indulge in the fantasy of having two wives on each side."

Tian Jun glared at him: "Do you know how shameless that is?"

“Zhizhen probably won’t object.” Zhu Wen looked at Lan Suting to the side, only to see Lan Suting blushing and lowering her head in silence.

"This is a one-time exception," Tian Jun said, embarrassed and annoyed.

Zhu Wen looked smug, pulled the two women back to the inn, and closed the door.

There was a charcoal stove inside, which was quite warm. All three of them took off their sheepskin coats and the blouses they had worn over them.

Zhu Wen first embraced Lan Suting, then untied her belt, and Lan Suting's high-waisted silk skirt slid down like water.

Holding Lan Suting's slender waist, Zhu Wen retreated to the Luohan bed by the wall, plopped down, and pulled Lan Suting's legs, which were covered by silk trousers, to sit facing him on his left leg.

He patted his free right leg and gestured to Tian Jun with his eyes: "Jun-mei, aren't you coming over here?"

Tian Jun walked over slowly with a helpless expression. She was wearing a short skirt suitable for riding a horse, so she didn't need to take it off when she sat on Zhu Wen's lap with her legs spread apart.

When the moment came, she was inevitably shy and reserved, but Zhu Wen suddenly grabbed her and pressed her onto his lap.

He was immediately surrounded by two women, their soft, warm bodies filling his arms.

Having women on both sides is a dream hidden in the hearts of countless men.

"Dream on!" Tian Jun twisted Zhu Wen's ear forcefully: "Now you've succeeded, you little lecher."

Zhu Wen smiled wickedly but did not answer.

Tian Jun sighed.

Why did she have to fall for this bad boy? Throughout their time together, she was always the one taking the initiative. She knew that sometimes it even seemed a bit submissive, but this relationship was something she had forced herself into.

"If you're willing to marry me, why not marry Zhizhen as well? There's no need to distinguish who's older or younger." Tian Jun said resignedly, "I won't let you touch Zhizhen, but you always want to cheat on her."

She herself was born to a concubine, so it wasn't entirely unacceptable to her, but she still felt very wronged. Lan Suting, standing to the side, lowered her head in embarrassment and remained silent, clutching her sleeves.

Just like any other man, the little lecher was prone to womanizing. Thinking of this, Tian Jun suddenly felt a pang of melancholy.

But Lan Suting and she are good sisters after all, so it must be much easier for them to get along.

Lan Suting broke the silence.

"Suting really likes Sister Jun and doesn't want to steal the man she likes," she said earnestly, biting her lip.

Tian Jun was surprised, but Zhu Wen remained calm, as if he had expected Lan Suting's answer.

Lan Suting added, "Besides, Sister Zhuoying has shown me great affection, which truly moves me. She has been orphaned since childhood and trapped in such a place; she really needs a caring person to look after her."

Previously, Lan Suting had remained noncommittal in the face of Zhuoying's ardent pursuit. Today, however, she frankly told Zhu Wen and Tian Jun about her decision.

Zhu Wen gazed at Lan Suting's pleasing, delicate face in his arms, feeling both satisfied and slightly disappointed.

Tonight, I was planning to put an end to the complicated relationship between the three of us.

Lan Suting was always sensible and knew that Zhu Wen's doting affection for her was more like familial love, and he had no sexual interest in her flat figure.

“Sister Jun, don’t think that people only chose Sister Zhuoying to let you have an advantage.” Lan Suting grabbed Tian Jun’s hand: “Suting is not tall, but she has often dressed as a man since she was a child.”

"The way Sister Zhuoying looked at Suting was one of infatuation and adoration, a look of longing for someone to stand tall and protect her in their arms."

“That look in their eyes makes one feel affirmed.” Lan Suting said quite seriously, “Everyone hopes that Suting will grow into a great advisor like Wei Zheng in the future. If that’s the case, how can one not have a towering and upright spirit?”

Lan Suting, such a delicate and frail girl, said such things without leaving anyone with a shred of doubt.

Compared to Shuoying, who knew a few moves, Lan Suting had no martial arts skills at all.

Her courage, spirit, and decisiveness were no less than any man's, and it was completely unexpected that such a frail body could possess them.

Zhu Wen did not want to possess Lan Suting, partly because he feared that his gentleness would erode her strength and courage.

"You two keep me company today, and I will never have any more thoughts about Zhizhen again." Zhu Wen solemnly promised Tian Jun, "I don't like having multiple wives and concubines, and I don't want to see the purest and most beautiful girls fighting over each other and gradually losing their own spirituality."

These words warmed Tian Jun's heart.

But she soon realized that her real rival was never her best friend Lan Suting, nor was it Duan Hongyan, who was more beautiful and considerate than her.

She couldn't win over the one true love in Zhu Wen's heart. If Xingxiang could reunite with Zhu Wen, their relationship would have to end there.

When Tian Jun first confessed her feelings to Zhu Wen, she made the same promise.

But when they truly embrace, feeling the warmth of a man's chest, they hope that this moment will last forever.

Greed is a human instinct.

Tian Jun grabbed Zhu Wen's hand and placed it on her thigh through his silk trousers: "What other mischief do you want to do? Just do it. The same goes for Zhizhen."

Zhu Wen felt Tian Jun's thigh muscles with his palm, and felt them melt and succumb to pleasure.

Tian Jun is a typical beauty with vibrant energy; her eyes are always bright, her figure is taut and full of tension, and she exudes amazing vitality. Even when she's menstruating, she feels no discomfort whatsoever, and it doesn't even affect her ability to fight.

Her honey-colored facial skin was a bit darker than most beauties', but it wasn't rough at all; it felt smooth and soft to the touch.

Having such a beautiful woman by your side brings indescribable joy and a sense of accomplishment.

"Let's kiss today, then go catch up on our sleep, okay?" Zhu Wen gazed at Tian Jun's fiery red lips, his voice as magnetic as a magnet.

Tian Jun's heart skipped a beat, but seeing that Lan Suting's face was also flushed, she lowered her eyes and said, "Isn't that a bit inappropriate... I still want to kiss her for the first time when we're together."

"Very well." Zhu Wen tightened his left arm around Lan Suting's waist. "Then, how about you two call me husband together today?"

Seeing the two women blushing, Zhu Wen picked them up, one in each arm, and carried them towards the bed, saying, "Consider it sending you off to your bridal sedan chairs."

Such words might have caused unnecessary complications, but Zhu Wen didn't think much of it and only hoped to enjoy the night.

Tian Jun had called Zhu Wen "husband" more than once or twice, but in front of Lan Suting, she still felt embarrassed and it took her a while to finally utter the words "husband".

As she spoke, she lightly punched Zhu Wen's chest with her small fist.

Lan Suting sat on the bed, remaining silent for a long while before softly calling out, "Husband."

After saying that, she buried her face in Zhu Wen's arms in embarrassment.

Zhu Wenton felt satisfied.

Tian Jun and Lan Suting were both exceptional women, and Zhu Wen did not want to tarnish their innate spirituality.

But at this moment, he felt that tonight, the spirits of the two beauties belonged entirely to him, and were perfectly integrated with his will.

The three of them stripped down to their undergarments and crawled into the quilt. Zhu Wen put his arm around each of the girls' slender waists and quickly fell asleep, exhausted, with a cool smile still lingering on his lips.

(End of this chapter)